about two weeks ago – i attended a lovely and intimate performance by rising star janelle monáe – for KCRW (southern california’s leading NPR affiliate, featuring an eclectic mix of music, news, information and cultural programming) hosted by the station’s cutie musical director jason bentley – it was such an awesome treat – i’ve been a huge fan of ms. monáe’s ever since i introduced her on popbytes back in 2008 when i posted her many moons video – two years later her recently released debut full-length album the archandroid is definitely one of this year’s finest albums – it’s superb! (make sure to catch her tightrope video) seeing janelle sing her heart out live in this super cool and cozy santa monica studio was something i won’t soon forget – one of the top nights of live music i’ve ever had the privilege of attending! listen and watch below for yourself (the audio sounds fantastic) there’s also a great interview about half-way through her set – enjoy! popbytes over & out … xoxo
Janelle Monáe proved that she is undoubtedly a star on the rise in a live session KCRW (89.9FM and KCRW.com) taped in front of a small studio audience at legendary producer Bob Clearmountain’s Berkeley Street Studio in Santa Monica, and now it will hit the airwaves just in time for the holiday weekend.
Janelle’s ambitious sophomore album “The ArchAndroid” is currently the most played album on KCRW and the station supported the Atlanta-based musician very early on in her career.
The interview touched on a wide variety of topics, from her desire to “preserve art,” her musical theater background and comparisons to David Bowie to working with Sean Combs, her own artist collective — the Wondaland Arts Society – and, best of all, her hairstyle.
“I’m the type of person that I experiment in my room when I’m alone and I just come up with all these crazy things, and whatever works, you know, works. It works for me and it’s a “Monáe.” People call it a “Whompador,” and a “Pompador,”- it’s called a Monáe.”
PHOTOS | JESSICA HOLMES PHOTOGRAPHY